After leaving Yankee Stadium, we returned to Central Park to explore a portion of the northern part of the park--Conservatory Garden......

You enter the garden off Fifth Avenue through these magnificent gates that once adorned the Vanderbilt mansion........

Conservatory Garden is the only portion of the park that is completed devoted to the old vision of a well-manicured Garden. Olmstead, who designed the park wanted it to be mostly a natural almost forest-like return to the original landscape of the island..........

But this portion of the park has a charm of its own.........

Dwight thinks this is "Old Faithful"!..........

In this shot, you can see part of the army of staff and many volunteers who keep this place up. The flower bed behind the fountain has just been planted in flowers for the summer season to replace the spring bulbs......

This is my favorite fountain in the entire city............

"Why can't I be a graceful, sprightly nymph?"...............

Up on the terrace is a mammoth vine bower..........

These stone benches in the shade of the flowering bower would be a cool place to spend a hot summer afternoon...........

And the view isn't bad either............

Being an old landscaper at heart, Dwight loves this place!!..............................

There are many paths to explore in Conservatory Garden................

With lots of interesting flora.............

Arranged in beds so that there is something blooming all summer...............

A lavender corner..............

These fragrant bushes are blooming all over the park and the entire park smells like roses..........

This part of the park has its own "mini" mall................

Another lovely bed......................

These are interesting leaves................

And did I mention that they're BIG!!!!..................

The remnants of a few spring bulbs burst through.......................

Astilbe--as I can never grow it!..................

Something rather coily and interesting................

Smokin'!........................

Another volunteer.................

A family enjoys this lovely spot................

I liked that shot so much, I zoomed in................

On a previous visit, there was a string quartet seated in this very spot giving a classical concert on a sunny Sunday afternoon...................

We exited onto Fifth Avenue and lo' and behold!!--the Guggenheim!...............

We took a break on the Park's Fifth Avenue benches for snacks from a vendor....................

There's nothing like a hot pretzel with mustard. Did I mention that when I went to a Weight Watchers meeting near Rockefeller Center a few days later, I had gained four pounds in less than one week in NYC?.................................................

Love this view of Mr. Trump's Tower--looks like a vertical garden.....................

To reach the subway, we venture through the ritzy Central Park East portion of New York..............

I wonder who lives here?....................

Dwight wanders up Park Avenue--It's a European Tote!............................

And lo' and behold! It's the Carlyle Hotel!.....................

We entered the lovely old lobby--you know this is where President Kennedy liked to stay........

Perhaps I could channel his spirit sitting before this old fireplace.....................

Could this be a private dinning room?.......................

Dwight and I were lucky enough to celebrate one of our anniversaries a few years back at the Carlyle and enjoyed Bobby Short on what would prove to be his last engagement here before he passed away. This alley adjacent to the hotel ha been named to honor him for his devotion to the hotel and the city..................

Bobby Short's handprints in the concrete.......................

Somebody has a dangerous fence..............

One of my architecture books mentioned that there were two hotels well worth checking out and when we got out of the subway near our hotel, Lo' and behold! There they were!! This is the St. Regis........................

Dwight enters the lobby of the St. Regis with his European tote..............

Beautiful! Beautiful!! And you can imagine the fragrance!..................................

The Registration Desk...........................

The St. Regis is famous for its lovely chandeliers and painted ceiling.................

Dwight and I have a hankering for some caviar, champagne and maybe even some of them fancy snails.......................

You may want to click on this photo to enlarge it so you can see the detail from the beautiful ceiling.....................

And so we leave the St. Regis--to the people who can actually afford to stay here....................

Across the street is the other "significant" hotel from my book--The Peninsula Hotel...................

Some rather avante guarde flower arrangements greet you at the door..................

Wow! This is impressive!.............................

This piece of furniture in the lobby looks like it deserves a starring role in "Beauty and the Beast"........................

I have a feeling that guests in this hotel get really good service..................................

The Peninsula has some pretty nifty chandelieres too..........................

These are pretty cool.......................

"More champagne and snails, please"..........................................

I should mention that when you pick up the house phones in these nice hotels, someone answers immediately, so we took just one more quick photo before house security escorted us off the premises.................................

What is this?--a giant dandelion?.............................................................

No, it's just a neat fountain enroute to our hotel! This is a BUSY city!--all three people in the photo are on the cell phone...........................

One final photo on the way "home". We took a cute picture of Dwight and I in this location a few years ago, but today is not a serene Sunday morning, it is a busy work day, and everyone on the sidewalk was rushing about and no one offered to take a picture of us both. Gotta love the artwork though!!